Charlton Athletic 2 v 1 Wycombe Wanderers

Sunday 29th December 2024, Kick-off 12.30

EFL League One

The Valley, Charlton

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: £3.50

Attendance: 15,554 (1,457 away)

A match report from a Charlton perspective can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below

And from a Wycombe perspective, by clicking here, also copied and pasted below

Brief match highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Addicks topple second-placed Wycombe

Charlton 2 Wycombe Wanderers 1

Charlton ended 2024 with a third successive win, beating second-placed Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 at The Valley.

The Addicks were outstanding as Miles Leaburn netted a brace shortly after half-time to extend Charlton’s unbeaten run to five games.

Nathan Jones opted for an unchanged side although a slight tactical tweak saw Tyreece Campbell maybe operating slightly wider that he had done in the Addicks wins over Northampton Town and Cambridge United.

After half chances for each side, the Addicks had the best chance of the first half in the 14th minute when Tyreece Campbell did excellently on the left, beating his man for pace to get to the byline, before cutting back for Luke Berry who couldn’t quite control his shot, which was gathered comfortably by Franco Racizzoli. 

It was the second half when Nathan Jones’ side really got motoring. The Addicks started the half like they began the first half of their previous two games. Leaburn notched his first of the game in the 46th minute, connecting superbly, on the volley, from Josh Edwards’ wonderful in-swinging cross from the right.

Six minutes later Leaburn doubled his and Charlton’s tally with a wonderfully audacious scoop over the onrushing Racizzoli. The chance came after Conor Coventry’s smart dummy left Luke Berry in space, with the midfielder threading a perfectly-weighted pass through for Leaburn.

Substitute Richard Kone, pulled a goal back for the visitors to give the Addicks a scare but Charlton were comfortable during seven minutes of stoppage time to secure another three points. 

The Addicks travel to Crawley Town on Wednesday before returning to The Valley for the visit of Reading on Saturday. 

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; A.Mitchell, Jones, Gillesphey; Small, Docherty (c), Coventry, Berry (Anderson 78), Edwards; Leaburn (Ahadme 81), T.Campbell

Subs (not used): Mannion, Edmonds-Green, A.Campbell, Hylton, Godden

Goals: Leaburn 46, 52

Assists: Edwards 46, Berry 52

Booked: Leaburn 71 (foul on Harvie)

Wycombe Wanderers: Ravizzoli, Grimmer (c), Harvie, Udoh (Kodua 65), McCleary (Onyedinma 56), Bakinson (Scowan 65), Low, Humphreys, Morley, Lubala (Kone 56), Taylor

Subs (not used): George, Hartridge, Leahy

Goal: Kone 84

Assist: Scowen 84

Booked: Bakinson 37 (preventing a free kick)

Referee: Lee Swabey

Report: Charlton 2-1 Wycombe

By wwfcofficial

Wanderers suffered a rare off-day as their long unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Charlton Athletic on Sunday lunchtime.

Miles Leaburn scored twice in quick succession soon after half-time to condemn the Blues to defeat in their final game of a spectacular 2024 despite Richard Kone’s late consolation, ahead of a return to Adams Park for the first of four successive home games when Exeter City visit on New Year’s Day.

Wycombe made three changes from the side that started in the comfortable 3-0 win at Stevenage on Boxing Day, with Tyreeq Bakinson facing his former club in midfield and Dan Udoh and Garath McCleary coming into the attack as Luke Leahy, Richard Kone and Fred Onyedinma moved to the bench.

Charlton, meanwhile, were unchanged after two straight wins over Northampton and Cambridge.

Beryly Lubala fizzed the first chance of the game over the bar from 25 yards, before Luke Berry saw a shot blocked and then drilled wide from a long throw at the other end.

Berry then went closer when Tyreece Campbell burst past Jack Grimmer down the left and cut it back, but the former Luton man couldn’t connect cleanly and his effort was comfortable for Franco Ravizzoli to collect.

The home side looked the more comfortable on a difficult pitch, but the game grew messy, other than a couple of smart attacks down Charlton’s wings, and some neat build-up play from Wycombe without being able to create their usual magic around the penalty area.

Campbell diverted Macaulay Gillesphey’s header over the Wanderers’ bar from a corner, before Aaron Morley had the visitors’ first effort on target on 37 minutes, curling straight at the keeper from 25 yards.

The 0-0 scoreline at half-time was a fair reflection of the game, but the breakthrough came a minute into the second period, when a long Charlton throw was recycled back into the area and Miles Leaburn stuck out a long leg to hook home the cross.

And then it got worse. The same striker stayed onside to meet a through-ball and chipped Ravizzoli to make it 2-0, prompting a quick double change from the Blues as Fred Onyedinma and Richard Kone replaced Garath McCleary and Beryly Lubala.

The game slowed right down and so Gideon Kodua and Josh Scowen came off the bench to try and inject fresh energy, as Dan Udoh and Tyreeq Bakinson made way.

But chances remained hard to come by, with Onyedinma flicking a half chance wide of the near post from Kodua’s low cross, while Campbell had a chance to wrap it up for the Addicks but ballooned over, and then they spurned a chance on a breakway when Thierry Small lashed wide.

Then hope arrived in the shape of Richard Kone’s third goal in two games as the substitute curled a superb finish into the far corner with six minutes remaining.

The referee then added on seven minutes of injury time but the Blues couldn’t find the leveller despite a succession of balls into danger, as the Addicks clung on for their third straight win.

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Alex Mitchell, Jones, Gillesphey, Edwards, Coventry, Docherty, Small, Berry, Tyreece Campbell, Leaburn

Subs: Ahadme, Hylton, Anderson, Edmonds-Green, Godden, Mannion, Allan Campbell

Wycombe: Ravizzoli, Grimmer, Low, Taylor, Harvie, Morley, Bakinson, Humphreys, Lubala, Udoh, McCleary

Subs: Scowen, Hartridge, Leahy, George, Kodua, Kone, Onyedinma

Harborough Town 4 v 0 Leiston

Saturday 28th December 2024, Kick-off 15.00

Southern League Premier Division Central

Bowden Park, Market Harborough

Admission: £12.00

Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 404

A match report from a Harborough perspective can be read by clicking here , also copied and pasted below

And from a Leiston perspective by clicking here , also copied and pasted below.

Bees hit four in last game of twenty-twenty-four

Harborough Town 4    Stephens (10’), Rose (55’), Kennedy (86’), Carta (89’)

Leiston FC  0

Harborough Town were well worth the three points, scoring four and keeping a clean sheet versus Leiston in foggy conditions at the Community Football Ground.

After a flurry of early corners for both sides, it was Ben Stephens’ who chested the ball down and fired past William Johnson in the Leiston goal from close range after a lofted ball from Alex Morris on 10 minutes. Stephens’ almost doubled the lead shortly after but his side foot shot was comfortably saved. Fellow striker Luis Rose forced Johnson in to a full length save midway through the first half and was on hand again to thwart Rose this time one-on-one after an exquisite reverse through-ball from Dan Cooper.

Harborough doubled their advantage early in the second half as Luis Rose held up the ball in the middle of the park and whilst holding off two defenders fed the ball into the path of a marauding Ben Starkie who returned the favour by crossing for Rose to prod home. Rose’s fourth attempt on goal was an ambitious side bicycle kick was equally saved in acrobatic style by the Leiston keeper. Midway through the second half and a second yellow for Cameron Rayworth reduced the visitor down to ten. As the game wore on and looking to exploit the man advantage Jutorre Burgess received the ball on the edge of his own box and ran at the Leiston defence and somehow Johnson, whilst diving to his right, stuck out his left hand to parry Burgess’ shot away. Starkie continued to be the architect of the afternoon breaking over halfway and tormenting the visiting defence before delivering a cross that found Rhys Hilton who has his shot well saved but Connor Kennedy was on hand to powerfully finish. And into injury time Dan Cooper deep down the right-hand side fires a low cross which Kennedy dummies and there is Joel Carta, back from his lengthy injury lay-off, to fire the ball sweetly into the top corner to make it four.

MOTM: Connor Kennedy (HTFC)

Match Rating: 5*

Blues leave Harborough well beaten with late goals compounding scoreline

Michael Bacon

LEISTON suffered their heaviest league defeat of the season just two days after recording their biggest league win of the campaign, after going down 0-4 at Harborough Town.

The Blues, who produced a Christmas cracker of a performance to beat Lowestoft Town 7-2 on Boxing Day, found themselves 0-1 down at Harborough in under 10 minutes.

And, despite playing some good football and creating chances, they couldn’t break through, the home side netting again just after the break.

When Cameron Rayworth saw red for a second yellow moments later the Blues were down to 10 and two late Harborough goals sealed the deal for the homesters.

In what is a ridiculously tight division the Blues slipped a place to ninth ahead of the New Year’s Day clash at Royston. Leiston went into the game missing both Fraser Alexander (injured) and George Quantrell (ill) but welcomed back Eddie Jackson after an injury lay-off. Club captain Seb Dunbar was again on the bench as he continues his recovery from injury.

In a game of nine bookings and one red the game rarely flowed as Leiston midfielder Albie Armin admitted afterwards.

“It didn’t go the way we planned,” he said. “A couple of strong tackles in the first half, including myself, saw bookings and then everyone was playing on eggshells.

“But if we look at it, we go to Royston on New Year’s Day, pick up a win and that’s nine points from 12 which the gaffer kept telling us will be a good place to be. It’s a bad loss but we can’t dwell on it for too long.”

Rossi Jarvis headed away an early free kick for the Blues and Ben Fowkes was back in the box to clear the resultant corner. Leiston’s first real chance came on seven minutes when Jamar Loza and Ollie Saunders linked up well but Armin headed the corner just wide.

Two minutes later, Harborough took the lead. Leiston didn’t deal with a ball into the box and Ben Stephens shot home after controlling well at an angle into the roof of Billy Johnson’s net to give the home side the lead.

Fowkes forced Elliott Taylor into a save three minutes after the restart, and Johnson was then called into action, saving from Stephens and also getting off his line to beat Connor Kennedy after a through ball.

Johnson saved brilliantly from Stephens on 34 minutes as the home side went into the break a goal up.

The second half took a little while to get going and it was Johnson who had to be quick off his line on 51 minutes to stop a Harborough attack.

Leiston blocked a Starkie shot on 53 minutes but a minute later Harborough doubled their lead when the dangerous Starkie dribbled at the Blues defence on the left and crossed into the area for Luis Rose who made no mistake to fire past Johnson.

Johnson made another good save, this time with his legs to prevent a third, while at the other end, Taylor got down to a Fowkes'effort on the hour mark.

The Blues were reduced to ten men when Rayworth was sent off for a second bookable offence for a foul. Leiston created three corners in a row but from the third one, Harborough quickly broke up field and Johnson had to make a good save to keep out Rose.

Loza was close to pulling a goal back on 81 minutes after going past a couple of home players and bursting into the box but Taylor saved with his feet while a minute later, Dunbar’s cross evaded everyone.

However, it was Harborough who would seal the deal, as captain Connor Kennedy finished off a move on 85 minutes before sub Joel Carta finished well on 89 minutes to compound more misery for Leiston.

Full-time: Harborough 4 Leiston 0

The Blues now head to Royston Town on New Year's Day (1pm kick off).

Line-ups: -

Harborough Town: - Taylor, Cooper, Walsh, Dolman, Kennedy, Morris, Burgess (sub Hilton 70 mins), Robinson (sub Carta 83 mins), Rose (sub Sandhu 74 mins), Stephens (sub O’Sullivan 56 mins), Starkie. Sub not used: - Malone.

Blues: - Johnson, Rayworth, Saunders, Rossi Jarvis (sub Yun 69 mins), Clements (sub Batho 69 mins), Eddie Jackson, Hill, Armin (sub Dunbar 59 mins), Fowkes (sub Curtis 75 mins), Fatadjo, Loza. Sub not used: - Ryan Jarvis.

Attendance: 404

Blues man of the match: Billy Johnson

Charlton Athletic 2 v 1 Cambridge United

Thursday 26th December 2024, Kick-off 15.00

EFL League One

The Valley, Charlton

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: £3.50

Attendance: 14,369 (592 away)

A match report from a Charlton perspective can be read by clicking here , also copied and pasted below

And from a Cambridge perspective by clicking here , also copied and pasted below

Brief video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Back-to-back wins as Addicks beat Cambridge

Charlton 2 Cambridge United 1

It was a positive Boxing Day for the Addicks who made it back-to-back wins with a 2-1 victory at home to Cambridge United.

Academy graduates Tyreece Campbell and Miles Leaburn netted their second goals in as many games in a controlled opening 20 minutes and although the visitors pulled a goal back Charlton were able to see the game out to extend their unbeaten run in the league to four games.

It was the perfect start for Charlton with Tyreece Campbell giving the Addicks the lead in the 36th second. Conor Coventry intercepted a Cambridge throw-in and Leaburn, near the half-way line hooked the ball in behind the Cambridge defence for Tyreece Campbell to run on to. The 21-year-old was first to the ball and finished through the goalkeeper’s legs from a tight angle. 

The Addicks were denied a second thanks to a crucial tackle from Jubril Okedina who stopped Tyreece Campbell’s low cross finding Greg Docherty at the back post for what looked like a certain goal. Nathan Jones’ side scored from the resulting long throw – Macauley Gillesphey, at the near post, flicked on Josh Edwards’ hurl into the box and Leaburn jumped highest to head home from close range under pressure from Cambridge stopper Vicente Reyes.

The visitors first half chance at goal came in the 28th minute when former Addick, Sullay Kaikai, blasted the ball over the crossbar.

Just before the half-time break Thierry Small, playing again at right wing back, got to the byline with a nice bit of trickery and dug out a cross, which was defended well to ensure Leaburn’s header didn’t find the target.

Docherty had the first chance of the second half, seizing on a loose ball in midfield and forcing a save from Reyes with a driven shot.

Cambridge, who had made a double change at the break, pulled a goal back seven minutes into the second period with their first big chance of the game when substitute Liam Bennett got to the byline and squared for Elias Kachunga to tap into an empty net.

The visitors then nearly levelled when a loose ball fell to Kaikai in the Charlton penalty area. The winger cut inside onto his right foot and had Ashley Maynard-Brewer beaten as his shot cannoned back off the post. 

After the Cambridge pressure, the Addicks responded, with Small cutting in and curling a shot just wide. Berry was denied first by an excellent Reyes save, then by a brave Cambridge block and then by a more comfortable save from Reyes. 

The Addicks were able to comfortably see the game out to send home happy the Boxing Day crowd at The Valley.

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; A.Mitchell, Jones, Gillesphey; Small, Docherty (c), Coventry, Berry (Edmonds-Green 90+4), Edwards; Leaburn (Anderson 90), T.Campbell (Ahadme 90)

Subs (not used): Mannion, A.Campbell, Hylton, Godden

Goals: T.Campbell 1, Leaburn 20

Assists: Leaburn 1, Gillesphey 20

Cambridge United: Reyes, Morrison (c), Watts (Andrew 46), Brophy, Kachunga (Loft 85), Kaikai, Smith, Okedina, Ibsen Rossi (Bennett 46), Stokes (Nlundulu 68), Cousins

Subs (not used): Stevens, Njoku, Longelo

Goal: Kachunga 52

Assist: Bennett 52

Booked: Brophy 63 (dissent), Morrison 73 (foul on Leaburn)

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 14,369 (592 from Cambridge)

Report: Charlton 2-1 Cambridge United

U’s fall short after suffering a 2-1 loss on the road to Charlton Athletic… 

Two early goals from the Addicks made it too much off a challenge for United who couldn’t find an equaliser, despite Kachunga’s strike early in the second half breathing life into the contest as the U's rallied late on, to no avail.

Garry Monk named four changes to the side that lost to Huddersfield Town, as as Kaikai, Smith, Ibsen Rossi and Stokes came into the team.

It was a nightmare start as the hosts opened the scoring with only seconds on the clock, as Tyreece Campbell finished past Reyes from a narrow angle to give the Addicks an early advantage.

United looked as though they had steadied the ship following the early set-back with a good spell of possession, but Charlton had their second on the 21st minute, as a long throw was flicked onto the head of Miles Leaburn, who beat Reyes to the ball to double the hosts lead. 

United did manage to get a foothold in the game to keep the Addicks attack at bay as they got to the break without further damage, however a lack of creativity with the ball saw Monk's men unable to test Maynard-Brewer in the Charlton net. 

Following the break, the U’s changed shape with Ibsen Rossi and Watts making way for Bennett and Andrew. It was a much more attacking and direct start to the half, as United looked to use wide areas to their advantage.

With less than 10 minutes played, a fine attacking move saw United find a breakthrough. Stokes with the time to advance the ball before playing in Bennett, who fired it across goal for the well-placed Kachunga to tap home and give the U’s a life line. 

The goal gave the U’s a real boost and added extra intensity to their play as a few minutes later, Kaikai found himself in possession just inside the Addicks box, but saw his effort crash off the woodwork in what was nearly a superb equaliser. 

U’s battled away looking for an equaliser, the best opportunites coming to Kachunga - who blazed wide on the volley - and Nlundulu - who couldn't divert his teammates cross towards goal - but Charlton managed to see out the victory to make it back-to-back defeats for United. 

It's another return to London in four days time, as they face Leyton Orient on Sunday 29 December.

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 14,369 (592 away fans)

Roffey 2 v 2 Crawley Down Gatwick

Monday 23rd December 2024, Kick-off 19.30

Southern Combination League Premier Division

Chennells Brook, Horsham

Admission: £7.00

Programme: £1.00 and online 

Attendance: 138